Posted By Ben Rohrbach On January 16, 2013 @ 9:17 am In General | 39 Comments

While the Celtics[1] have been linked to almost every big name on the market (DeMarcus Cousins[2], Marcin Gortat, etc.), team president Danny Ainge claims he doesn’t foresee a major trade before the Feb. 21 deadline.

‘That doesn’t make a lot of sense to radically change the team when you’re trying to compete to win it all,’ Ainge told Comcast in a preview[3] of a 20-minute interview that will air prior to Wednesday night’s Celtics game against the Hornets. ‘We have been and will continue to look to upgrade our team, but I think it’s always more unlikely that that happens than likely.’

Based on those comments, Ainge either: a) changed his philosophy in the wake of the Kendrick Perkins[4] for Jeff Green[5] swap with the Thunder in 2011; or b) didn’t believe that trade would “radically change the team.” In which case, does he believe a deal involving Avery Bradley[6], Jared Sullinger or anybody not named Paul Pierce[7], Rajon Rondo[8] or Kevin Garnett[9] radically changes these C’s?

Either way, his statements appear to be a vote of confidence in Doc Rivers[10] and this season’s Celtics as the result of their six-game winning streak. But who’s to say he won’t change his mind over the next five weeks?

‘You have to produce,” added Ainge, who has admitted urging[11]Red Auerbach[12] during the 1988-89 NBA season to tradeLarry Bird[13] for Chuck Person, Herb Williams and Steve Stipanovich in addition to dealing Kevin McHale[14] to the Mavericks for Detlef Schrempf and Sam Perkins. And those were his friends. “It’s my job to look at the bigger picture. We have to live in the moment and try to win and help our team have success, but at the same time, if it’s not happening on the court, than there has to be changes made, absolutely.’